AKC Reports Pet Thefts on the Rise - MyFox Memphis

(EndPlay Staff Reports) - Though it may seems like a plot from a Disney cartoon, it's no joke, " dognappings" are on the rise in the United States.

According to a recent study released by the American Kennel Club , animal thefts have risen 49 percent in the past year.

Nearly 224 pets were reported stolen through July 2011, compared to 150 in the same seven-month period last year.

"We are getting reports almost daily of pets stolen during home invasions, out of parked cars while people are running errands and even snatched from dog lovers out for a walk in the park," said American Kennel Club spokesperson Lisa Peterson.

For pet lovers, the aftermath of a dealing with the theft of a pet can be devastating, reported The BBC .

"The distress has been to such a degree that I can't even explain. It's turned my life upside down. I don't have children so these are my babies," said Peggy Riley of Texas, whose two terriers, Baxter and Cooper, were stolen along with other items in her home.

That's no surprise, said Jane Hayes, founder of Dog Lost, a charity that helps reunite missing dogs and their owners. "People treat their dogs like children in so many ways, buying them presents, giving them good food and giving them expensive medical treatments," she told The BBC. "So the theft of a dog can feel like a bereavement."

But there are things that can be done to safeguard Fido.

"The biggest prevention tip is a collar and tags, hands down it's the easiest, simplest, most inexpensive thing that you can do and really have that increase your chances of getting your dog back safe," Annalisa Berns of California-based Pet Search and Rescue recently told " Good Morning America. "

The American Kennel Club offers other tips as well, including:

• Don't let your dog off leash in public;
• Don't leave your dog unattended in your yard;
• Don't give strangers information about your dog;
• As an added precaution, make sure your pet has a microchip ID.